ONE Championship is set to light up Denver once again on Friday night, and Thailand's Superlek Kiatmookao plans to leave a lasting impression on the American fans.
Superlek, ONE's flyweight kickboxing champion, will look to become a two-sport champion when he challenges the UK's Jonathan Haggerty in the main event at Ball Arena.
The 28-year-old knows more is at stake than just his title aspirations, however, as Asia-based martial arts organisation ONE – and the sport of Muay Thai – aim to make big inroads into the United States.
"I'm excited and I'm happy to be fighting here in America," Superlek told the Bangkok Post after Thursday's ceremonial weigh-ins and face-offs at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.
"I want fans here to see what Muay Thai is all about and to put on a show. I believe after the fight, everybody will know my name, Superlek, in America, in the United States."
Both Superlek and bantamweight Muay Thai champion Haggerty, 27, passed their hydration tests and made weight at Thursday morning's official weigh-ins, before posturing and posing on stage in a tense stare down later in the afternoon.
"I had no issues. I made the weight, it was all good and everything went smoothly," added "The Kicking Machine", who has previously failed to hit the mark on the scales on multiple occasions during the last two years of his career in ONE.
The big talking point in Colorado is Superlek's decision to finish his fight camp in Thailand, with the Thai only arriving in the "Mile High City" last Sunday.
Such a short time to acclimate to the higher altitude could feasibly cause him cardio issues in the highly anticipated showdown with Haggerty, who has been living and training in Denver for the last four weeks.
"At first when we came here to train I was a little tired," Superlek admitted. "But after two or three days, I was getting acclimated.
"We feel great and normal with everything. We have acclimated to the altitude here and we're ready."
Haggerty suggested to the Bangkok Post that Superlek could perhaps tire in the latter stages of their five-round fight, should it go that long, with many fans thinking the Thai will have to knock out the Briton early on if he is to win.
"No, I don't think like that, because when I get in the ring I'm going to have a game plan and stick to the strategy that I have been training," Superlek said, however.
Superlek, ONE's flyweight kickboxing champion, will look to become a two-sport champion when he challenges the UK's Jonathan Haggerty in the main event at Ball Arena.
The 28-year-old knows more is at stake than just his title aspirations, however, as Asia-based martial arts organisation ONE – and the sport of Muay Thai – aim to make big inroads into the United States.
"I'm excited and I'm happy to be fighting here in America," Superlek told the Bangkok Post after Thursday's ceremonial weigh-ins and face-offs at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.
"I want fans here to see what Muay Thai is all about and to put on a show. I believe after the fight, everybody will know my name, Superlek, in America, in the United States."
Both Superlek and bantamweight Muay Thai champion Haggerty, 27, passed their hydration tests and made weight at Thursday morning's official weigh-ins, before posturing and posing on stage in a tense stare down later in the afternoon.
"I had no issues. I made the weight, it was all good and everything went smoothly," added "The Kicking Machine", who has previously failed to hit the mark on the scales on multiple occasions during the last two years of his career in ONE.
The big talking point in Colorado is Superlek's decision to finish his fight camp in Thailand, with the Thai only arriving in the "Mile High City" last Sunday.
Such a short time to acclimate to the higher altitude could feasibly cause him cardio issues in the highly anticipated showdown with Haggerty, who has been living and training in Denver for the last four weeks.
"At first when we came here to train I was a little tired," Superlek admitted. "But after two or three days, I was getting acclimated.
"We feel great and normal with everything. We have acclimated to the altitude here and we're ready."
Haggerty suggested to the Bangkok Post that Superlek could perhaps tire in the latter stages of their five-round fight, should it go that long, with many fans thinking the Thai will have to knock out the Briton early on if he is to win.
"No, I don't think like that, because when I get in the ring I'm going to have a game plan and stick to the strategy that I have been training," Superlek said, however.
